• The first stage of the forum upgrades has now been completed but they remain in a degraded state and are still being worked on. Normal posting/reading should now be possible.
    Please read this thread for more details.
    New user registrations are currently disabled.

SMB Film Thread 2025

Status
Not open for further replies.
Three by Paul Schrader, surely the writer/director with the widest range: everything from Japanese arthouse to Nicholas Cage straight-to-video.

The Card Counter (2021) 9/10
Don't know how this one passed me by. Intrigiuing story that combines the horrors of Abu Ghraib Prison with the drudgery of the US gambling circuit. Compelling central performance by Oscar Isaac.
You must be logged on to see media items

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985) 10/10
A contender for greatest biopic of all time. The final day of the life of Japanese author Yukio Mishima, interwoven with scenes from his life and stylised dramatisations of his books. Some truly breathtaking set design by Eiko Ishioka and magnificent soundtrack by Philip Glass.
You must be logged on to see media items

Light of Day (1988) 5/10
Elevates miscasting to an art. Joan Jett and Michael J Fox as musician siblings struggling with family issues. If anything, it's the miscasting that makes it watchable.
You must be logged on to see media items
 

Bugonia (2025) - Omniplex

Latest slice of uncategorisable, offbeat weirdness from Yorgos Lanthimos. Fantastic performances as ever from Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. Think I actually preferred this to the much more hyped Poor Things , though still think The Favourite and The Lobster are his two best.

8.5/10


House Of Dynamite (2025) - Netflix

Two word review - "f***ing terrifying".

9/10
 
Frankenstein (2025)

At first I didn’t think I was going to like all the changes Del Toro has made to the story. However, I remember reading the abridged story as a kid and finding it excellent, but relentlessly depressing. I’m quite glad he’s fashioned some different scenes and characters.

It’s a visually incredible film, in every single aspect bar dreadful CGI. The cinematography is first rate - raw, stunning and strangely poetic in some scenes. The set design is excellent and even the costumes are great. It’s a visual feast. Bar a few cliched and lazy lines, the script is good. All the major parts are well cast, and even the smaller characters are rock solid.

Several scenes aren’t for the squeamish, but it’s not particularly gratuitous. On the whole, this is a very good adaptation of the classic story and Del Toro has brought something genuinely new to the table.

8/10
 
Speakeasy said:
Bugonia (2025) - Omniplex

Latest slice of uncategorisable, offbeat weirdness from Yorgos Lanthimos. Fantastic performances as ever from Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. Think I actually preferred this to the much more hyped Poor Things , though still think The Favourite and The Lobster are his two best.

8.5/10


House Of Dynamite (2025) - Netflix

Two word review - "f***ing terrifying".

9/10
Click to expand...
Not as good as the original, Save The Green Planet, in my eyes.
 
Predator Badlands (2025)

I would love to know how on earth this got green lit by the studio. It's not just that it is bad (it's really bad) but the whole premise of the movie is stupid.

One of the worst movies I have ever watched
Cockney Mackem said:
Wolf Man was absolutely dogshit this year. Quite apart from a really poorly written story, the "werewolves" looked like all they needed was a couple of nights in Centre Point, a bath and a fresh set of clothes and they could attend a job interview on Monday
Click to expand...

I have some terrible news for you. Based on what I saw at the Sitges festival werewolves are the new zombies
 
Logon or register to see this image

9.7/10 It's a true masterpiece, go and see it at the cinema whilst its still on. Two conspiracy-obsessed men kidnap the CEO of a major company when they become convinced that she's an alien who wants to destroy Earth.
 
Fat City, largely because I just didn't believe Bridges was once a youngster and to be fair he just looks exactly the same aside from a few wrinkles. A same person I call them. Very much in contrast with Stacey Each the other recognised big shot in this film.
 
Last edited:
Frankenstein - Netflix

Oscar Isaac’s stars.

Canny! Long film but just about held me in place to see it through, loved the two perspectives of the story from the creator to the monster.

All great performances. Visually looked great as you’d expect bar the daft animals, weezsigned them off as looking real ffs - anyway didn’t stop a very good cobra score of 8/10.
 
Watched Good Fortune (2025) the other day.

Keanu Reeves delivery in it is very good. You need to look past the fact it's multi millionaires delivering the message, but it's a good story to tell I suppose.

7/10, but I like Seth Rogan and Aziz Ansari doesn't annoy me like I'm sure he will others.

Keanu steals the show though.
 
Crimson Peak (2015) 8/10
Gothic romance from Guillermo del Toro. Visually impressive, as you'd expect.
You must be logged on to see media items

Frankenstein (2025) 8/10
Really enjoyed it - del Toro plays to all his strengths. Could have done with being about 30 minutes shorter.
You must be logged on to see media items

The Ninth Configuraton (1980) 9/10
Mark Kermode raved about this in his review of Frankenstein. Del Toro cites it as a major influence. Weird mix of comedy and psychological thriller. I'm sure there are nuances and insights that will only be discovered in multiple viewings. Not sure the same can be said of the other two.
You must be logged on to see media items
 
Can’t recall if I posted this in this thread and I’m not checking but we watched Mr Burton last night.

A biopic of Richard Burton or Richard Jenkins as he was called. A good cast, and a cracking film.
 

Self Reliance (2023). Netflix. A solid 7/10. Pretty bizarre about a lonely guy who's offered the chance of winning $1mill on a dark Web game show if he can survive being hunted for 30 days. There's a loophole that he can't be killed if hes with someone.​

 
Monty Pigeon said:
Three by Paul Schrader, surely the writer/director with the widest range: everything from Japanese arthouse to Nicholas Cage straight-to-video.

The Card Counter (2021) 9/10
Don't know how this one passed me by. Intrigiuing story that combines the horrors of Abu Ghraib Prison with the drudgery of the US gambling circuit. Compelling central performance by Oscar Isaac.
You must be logged on to see media items

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985) 10/10
A contender for greatest biopic of all time. The final day of the life of Japanese author Yukio Mishima, interwoven with scenes from his life and stylised dramatisations of his books. Some truly breathtaking set design by Eiko Ishioka and magnificent soundtrack by Philip Glass.
You must be logged on to see media items

Light of Day (1988) 5/10
Elevates miscasting to an art. Joan Jett and Michael J Fox as musician siblings struggling with family issues. If anything, it's the miscasting that makes it watchable.
You must be logged on to see media items
Click to expand...
The card counter is superb! One of Schrader’s best.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top